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Thursday, March 22, 2012: once again gray skies this morning. Today we leave for THE Forest Arthurian legends, the famous Dark Forest (its administrative name ''Paimpont
forest''). If these names mean anything to you, let me add those of the Fairies Viviane and Morgana, Merlin the Wizard, the Fountain of Youth, Eon, King Arthur
and the Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot and so many others... But first, the video:
As you can see in the video, the Dark Forest is composed mainly of oak and some are spectacular. Here we are in this fabulous forest which served decors number of legends
and songs, igniting the soul of many people emplient of bravery, courage, strength and love. (I'm writing this report while listening to the music of the Lord of the
Rings trilogy ... so I might have some theatrics.) The first thing to do is go to the Abbey of Paimpont to recover a small map showing us the legendary places of
the forest.
Here we are, to begin before the oak Hindrés, also called Rouvre. Guardian of the wood, it is more than 5m in circumference at its base and stands upright for over
500 years. It was a place of ceremonies for druids.
The koala was impressed by the stature of the guardian of this place, he wanted to take as an example and did the same time we were on site, watching over
me taking photos, with the help of the Rouvre :
The forest a special atmosphere even though it is still sleeping through the winter, acorns fallen in autumn just beginning to emerge out of the carpet of dead leaves of last year
(I'll have to go back when the forest is full of life, where the green predominates, protecting us from its freshness against the summer heat.).
We walk a little, lulled by the low noise of the wind in the trees, it feels good in the forest. Shortly after, we met a bunch of rusty scrap and whose nature seems to integrate, to ingest...
We arrive in a clearing ... enthroned at the center of an ancient foot holly and two slabs of red shale, surrounded by a circle of stones. The tomb of Merlin the Wizard. Legend
says that Merlin was in love with the fairy Viviane and she imprisoned him with a powerful spell and locked in the tomb in front of which we find ourselves. Sometimes people come gather
here and leave a prayer or a wish to fulfill. The koala is climbing on him, he did not tell me what cards he had but he still gave me a sprig of holly (which is still on my hat)).
A little further, probably to prevent the pilgrims get lost, is an indicative stone :
Here we go ... through the branches and between the stones is a water hole, the Fountain of Youth. The legends say that it is water that helps to rejuvenate, people down to
earth say it is because of baptisms, there was a time in the year, as a result, the baby born after had to wait a year and then ''rejuvenated'' a year. Everyone interprets
it as he wishes. In any case, I know one who had planned the coup: the koala took out a bottle and filled !
While I was taking pictures, I heard next a young woman singing that could be likened to praise Gaia (Mother Earth) in the face and around her stood a large number of small altars stacked stone :
Hearing the sound of water, I turned ... The koala is not waiting to be back at home to test the magic power of the water source. I do not know if it actually rejuvenates or not, I'll let you compare the pictures
with the old. Still, I took the opportunity of making his portrait :
Back in the car, we eat a little and go way to the famous Oak of Eon.
Oak of Eon or Oak Guillotin, has seen the seasons pass, people, legends ... this is a little Fourrasse Father trees with over 1,000 years of service! Measuring over
9 meters in circumference at its base, it is a monster, but it is also a hollow armor, its center being empty. It is this characteristic that gave him his second name
Guillotin as a refractory priest (Pierre-Paul Guillotin) took refuge in the hollow Oak to escape the repression of the French revolution. To give you an idea of its
monumental size, the koala has struck a pose on the bark, will you find him ?
Beside the Oak of Eon is the Chapel of the Holy Grail (located at Trehorenteuc) rebuilt by the abbot Gillard in 1942, advocating tolerance and dedicated to St. Onenne and the Holy Grail.
A statue of the abbot in front of the church while he himself is buried in the church.
We're back on the road, this time to go to the famous Valley of No Return. Before I begin, I want to say that this time the music of the Elves of Rivendell happening in my helmet, so, put
it well in the mood! According to legend, Morgan the Fairy (half-sister of King Arthur), betrayed by her lover, cast a spell over Val, including imprisoning all the knights who were unfaithful.
Only Lancelot managed to penetrate and break the spell with its unique love for Guinevere. He freed all the prisoners and knights.
The Valley of No Return is also home to mirror the tale. It is a small lake in which fairies who lived five swore never to return to the surface. But
the promise was broken when one of elel fell in love with a man. The other fairies, seeing this, decided to kill the man. Guessing on his return that the
other fairies had the fairy killed them and returned to the lake. Now, when a fairy wanted to read the future, it must pay a fee with a grain of wheat.
The name was given to the mirror lake because the forest around him was so dense that the wind did not go there, making the surface of the water as smooth
as a mirror.
In the Valley of No Return, there is also the Golden Tree. In 1990, a fire destroyed 600 hectars of forest Dark Forest. Donations poured in from all over France to
finance replanting. To mark the event, the artist François Davin kept six charred trees, they left five black and covered up a gold leaf. This is 90g of gold leaves
that give its name to the relief of the fire and with the entire country.
This panel gives us an indication of an upcoming site visit. We will not do but walk back to the car but because before you go, we will first see the Tomb of the Giants.
Back in the car, we eat a little and go way to the famous Oak of Eon.
Once again a little way, we finally here where we wanted conduir the sign: the Hôtié Viviane. Located 191m above sea level, no wonder the fairy Viviane there built his house (his Hôtié)
because the magnificent view. Dating back to 2,500 years BC, it was used as a place megalith. It discovered many artifacts from the era, such as ax dolerite (a blue-green compact granular
rock), various jewelry and flint and fragments of pottery.
The evening falling gently on the moor and forest Dark Forest, it is easily carried away by the magic of the place, especially in the countryside and overlooking:
On the way back, a little wink stands on the side of the road. A couple of friends who will recognize Breton quickly (through which I could make various reports in Britain)!
It is here that ends this day Brocéliande, we go back in the Tardis (machine to travel in time and space) to return to our time. But there is always that little spark of magic in the corner
of the eye, required after a day like this!
